2012: The War for Souls

A mysterious alien presence unexpectedly bursts out of sacred sites all over the world and begins to rip human souls from their bodies, plunging the world into a chaos it has never before known. Courage meets cowardice; loyalty meets betrayal as an entire world struggles to survive this incredible end-all war. Heroes emerge, villains reveal themselves, and in the end, something completely new and unexpected happens that at once lifts the fictional characters into a new life and sounds a haunting real-world warning for the future.

Just terrible. I don't even know why I finished listening to it - I guess because I have enjoyed some of Streiber's previous work and was hoping it would get better. It was saccharin, maudlin and redundant. The basic premise and driving story line, sans all the ridiculous Harlequin Romance-style details with repetitive and bizarre descriptions of bodily functions, odors, tastes and unnecessary lame sex, could have been summed up in half the time and to much better effect. This was supposed to be a sci-fi thriller not a sappy homily on love of family. I am actually kind of shocked it was so bad. I want to scream to get it out of my head!

Sounds as if the author was reading a collection of superficial and dated articles from newspapers, tabloids and periodicals - and read so perfunctorily! I could not listen to this book as recorded but rather skipped ahead from chapter to chapter hoping the content would improve – it did not. This recording seems like a naked grab at trading on this actor's then fame, to establish himself as an author (fail)… perhaps it worked for some but not for me. What a total waste of time and an Audible credit.

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization

In AD 476 the Roman Empire fell - or rather, its western half did. Its eastern half, which would come to be known as the Byzantine Empire, would endure and often flourish for another 11 centuries. Though its capital would move to Constantinople, its citizens referred to themselves as Roman for the entire duration of the empire's existence.

The narrative presentation is more like listening to a man reading a fairytale to a child — actually very superficial in reading style and content but I guess a decent overview. I was disappointed that it was really no more than a recounting of a succession of wars with little detail about the civilization of the Byzantium Empire. Also the author is the narrator and his sing-song reading style became very grating - I could only listen for short periods at a time — really; next time pay a professional.

The Trillion-Dollar Conspiracy Unabridged: How the New World Order, Man-Made Diseases, and Zombie Banks Are Destroying America

The New World Order. Hitler referred to it in his diaries. President George H. W. Bush foretold of it in his speeches. Formed by a secretive global elite, the group seeking this new order has taken hold of the nation and perhaps the world. Its influence pervades every reach of American society, from the products we buy at the grocery store to the topics of evening news programs.

I like Jim Marrs and up until now most of his books. He is also a very good speaker and a thorough investigator however this book falls very short of his usual standards and was a very big disappointment.

Firstly, there was not much new information here that Marrs has not already covered in his other books and secondly he really takes a right-wing libertarian turn that is quite off-putting. His complete loss of journalistic objectivity and preachy agenda promulgated throughout — just made it impossible to listen all the way through. I was looking forward to this book but now I wish I had not purchased it.

The Ghost Writer: A Novel

Adam Lang has been Britain’s longest serving—and most controversial—prime minister of the last half century. As pressure mounts for Lang to complete this memoirs, he hires a professional ghostwriter to finish the book. As he sets to work, the ghostwriter discovers many more secrets than Lang intends to reveal, secrets with the power to alter world politics - secrets with the power to kill.

Ah... how satisfying, a wonderful thriller, thoroughly engaging, well written and the first-rate audio production brings it all to life - Roger Rees is just terrific. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Now what new book can I read that will match this quality... I've been totally spoiled.

Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002

Best-selling and Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie offers incisive, often humorous takes on literature, culture, and world events in this New York Times Notable Book. In these stimulating pieces, Rushdie addresses a variety of subjects, including the death of the novel, India, soccer, and the Rolling Stones.

Salman Rushdie is in great form but for me this book is unlistenable in all but very short bursts because of the narrator's grating voice with it's sarcastic tone and almost hostile delivery. It is a crime because the writing is excellent. The book is short and I would much rather have heard the author's own voice especially since these are essays. The content deserves 5-stars but I can only give it one... I don't know if I will ever get fully through it and wish I had not purchased it.

My Life in France

This memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia Child embraced so wholeheartedly. Above all, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became.

I almost didn't buy this unabridged version of My LIfe in France because of all the negative comments in the reviews about the the narrator's horrible French pronunciation - said to be too distracting. Well that is just foolishness and perhaps down right snobbishness as well - Ms. Farr does a serviceable job with the French pronunciation and it's certainly not distracting. The book so far is an absolute delight and I highly recommend it. Ms. Greenberg who narrates the Abridged version sounds very good as well and may indeed do better with the French but I did not want to miss a word of Julia's fascinating and wonderful life story. Enjoy!

Lightning

A storm struck on the night Laura Shane was born, and there was a strangeness about the weather that people would remember for years. But even more mysterious was the blond-haired stranger who appeared out of nowhere - the man who saved Laura from a fatal delivery. Years later - after another bolt of lightning - the stranger returned.

I bought this for the Science Fiction story, I was not expecting a long and really quite dull soap opera. So little of the narrative was about the time travel, aspect -really little and in the end that wasn't even very well done. Excellent science fiction is hard to find and this ain't it. This is the second time I have given this author a try and I find he is hugely over rated. I don't think I will buy a title by Koontz again. Note: I gave this one star because I had to give it something to post this review. It deserved zero stars.

The Grays

Millions of people are confronting aliens that authorities say do not exist. Now Whitley Strieber, author of the #1 best seller Communion, which detailed his own close encounters, returns with The Grays, a mind-bending journey behind the curtain of secrecy that surrounds the subject of aliens. This audiobook will make you think deeply, not only about the mystery of who the Grays are, but who exactly we are.

Rarely is an audiobook so well read. In fact this is less like a reading than a full cast brought to life by the singular audio performance of Stephen Lang; truly terrific. Really well written. Thank you Whitely; we want more!

Point to Point Navigation: A Memoir

In this extraordinary memoir, Vidal recalls his accomplishments and defeats, discusses the friends and enemies he has made, and contemplates the nature of mortality. In the Navy, Vidal was forced to use point to point navigation whenever compasses failed. It is an apt analogy for his life, which has been filled with triumphs as well as controversies. Vidal has had relationships with innumerable luminaries, including President Kennedy, Tennessee Williams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Orson Welles, and Greta Garbo.

Gore Vidal is a master of the memoir. His book is so entertaining and informative, I find myself going back again and again to listen. And you need not listen in order - you can just drop in at any point and it feels like you are listening to Gore recount memories directly to you over tea. Fascinating! Highly recommended.

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